As Toys ‘R’ Us locations across the country pack up their remaining inventory, the store’s mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe did some packing of his own.
A heartbreaking photo of the beloved character standing amidst empty shelves with a bright green roller bag has gone viral on social media as former Toys ‘R’ Us kids – most of them now adults – mourn the demise of the toy kingdom.
The famed toy emporium filed for bankruptcy last fall and announced it would be shutting down all locations across America in March.
A photo of Toys ‘R’ Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe with a suitcase in a deserted store has gone viral as former Toys ‘R’ Us kids – most of them now adults – mourn the toy kingdom’s demise
The bankrupt toy company announced that it would be shutting down all US locations in March
The photo of a sullen Geoffrey the Giraffe was taken by Rene Johnpiere, believed to be an employee at a Toys ‘R’ Us in Waterbury, Connecticut.
In the less than two days since Johnpiere posted the image on Facebook, it has been shared nearly 300,000 times.
She’s also posted several other photos of the empty store, including one that shows a sign with a cartoon version of Geoffrey painting the words: ‘I guess everyone has grown up. There’s no more Toys “R” Us kids.’
Another poster has a letter from Geoffrey that reads: ‘One day, all of us will get separated from each other. We will miss our conversations of everything, and nothing, and the dreams we had. Days, months, and years will pass until this contact becomes rare.
‘One day, our children will see our pictures and ask: “Who are these people?” And we will smile with invisible tears because a heart is touched with a strong word and you will say: ‘It was with them that I had some of the best days of my life”.’
The letter is signed with hoof prints and Geoffrey’s name.
Rene Johnpiere, the woman who took the viral also posted several other images, including the one above that reads: ‘I guess everyone has grown up. There’s no more Toys “R” Us kids’
Another photo from Johnpiere shows a bittersweet letter from the beloved mascot
The most recent set of photos, posted on Thursday night, shows the empty store in the moments before employees locked the doors for the last time.
‘My heart is breaking,’ Johnpiere wrote.
The photos feature nothing but empty shelves and neon signs that say: ‘All sales final,’ ‘Going out of business’ and ‘Final Day!’
In contrast to the somber images, Johnpiere dug up nostalgic several commercials from the 80s and 90s and sprinkled them in with the more solemn posts to remind people of the good ol’ days.
Johnpiere is believed to be an employee at a Toys ‘R’ Us in Waterbury, Connecticut (left). She has posted several photos of the deserted store as it prepared to close down for good
Johnpiere’s most recent post she showed employees finishing up their tasks at the store, which is covered in neon sale signs, before locking the doors for the last time
Many people have reacted to the images on Twitter, sharing their sadness that a piece of their childhood has been shuttered.
Jacob Rabon IV tweeted two of the photos with the caption: ‘I can’t believe childhood is cancelled.’
Another user, @carloslinera22, wrote: ‘There are sad moments in life … but this, this broke me completely. You’ll be missed Geoffrey the Giraffe.’
Jerry Whitworth tweeted: ‘Goodbye, Geoffrey the Giraffe. Thank you for everything.’
Many people have reacted to Johnpiere’s photos on Twitter, expressing sadness that a piece of their childhood has been shuttered
One user tweeted the photo saying: ‘Goodbye, Geoffrey the Giraffe. Thank you for everything’
Another user, @carloslinera22, wrote: ‘There are sad moments in life … but this, this broke me completely. You’ll be missed Geoffrey the Giraffe #ForeverAToysRUsKid
It’s been a rough year for Toys ‘R’ Us, whose founder Charles Lazarus died aged 94 on March 22, the same day the company was scheduled to begin its liquidation sale.
Lazarus founded the company in 1948 and built it up to be an icon that enjoyed 70 years of success.
In 1965, Geoffrey the giraffe became the company’s mascot, appearing in his first TV commercial in 1973.
By the 80s and early 90s, Toys R Us dominated the toy-store business and its jingle, ‘I’m a Toys R Us kid’ became an anthem for children across the country.
The chain slowly began to lose its footing as shoppers moved to Amazon and competitors such as Walmart.
By the fall of 2017 the company, saddled with $5billion in debt, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but pledged to stay open.
Only a few months later in March, the decision was made to liquidate.